Vehicle-wheel.



N. L. HAYDEN.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-19,1914.

Patented June 29, 1915.

LMMA'YSS N. LH YDEN wean n Harman, or means, narrows.

VEH'EQLE-WH'EEL.

intents.

Specification .of Letters Eatenst.

Patented June 2Q, ll iilfii,

Application filed September 19, 1191 .1. Serial No. 862,5 4:.

T9 al whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, N04 L. HAYDEN, a

citizen of the United States,'residing at Bisbee, 1n the county-ofCochise and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle Wheels, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I p

This invention-relates to certain improvements in wheels and has for anob]ect to provide a. device of this general character having novel andimproved means whereby vibration or shock incident to the travel may besubstantially entirely eliminated without the use of a pneumatic tire orthe like.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide a device of thisgeneral character including a plurality of resilient spokes, each ofsaid. spokes being of a novel and improved construction whereby theweight thereon when standing perpendicular is received on asubstantially horizontal intermediate portion whereby all vibrations aresubstantially absorbed before reaching the axle of the wheel.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a wheel of thisgeneral character having novel and improved means whereby all strainsincident to side sweeping of the wheel are compensated for and thusassure additional strength to the wheel.

My invention also has for its object to provide a device of this generalcharacter whereby the spokes comprised therein may be removed or appliedwith convenience and facility without the necessity of disassembling thewheel proper in anymanner.

My invention also contemplates for an object to provide a device of thisgeneral character wherein the hub extremities of the spokes arepivotally engaged between spaced disks, and having more and improvedmeans positioned between the disks and intermediate adjacent spokes forpreventing dust or other foreign substances from entering between thedisks or flanges which would otherwise have a tendency to impair theelliciency of the wheel.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangcment of the several parts of my improved Wheelwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the device isrendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use,

tion, of a wheel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. '3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sectionillustrating in detail the connection between a spoke and the rim of thewheel as herein set forth; Fig. i is a fragmentary view, partlyinelevation and p rtly in section, illustrating the guard mem' ers hereinincluded in operative position; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view,detached, in perspective of one of the guard members.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a hub ofpredetermined dimensions and having arranged adjacent each end thespaced annular flanges 2-2, the central portions 3 whereof beingconvexed in order to impart additional strength thereto in a manner andfor a purpose which is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilledin the art to which my present invention appertains.

Surrounding the hub 1 and in predetermined spaced relation relativethereto is the rim 4 provided with the tire 5 preferably of rubber,although i do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in any way asto the exact material from which said tirc may be made. I wish, however,to especially state that under no conditions is it necessary to employ apneumatic tire or the like.

Projecting inwardly and radially from the rim 4 are the equidistant-1yspaced studs 6, the periphery of each being threaded in order to permitdetachable engagement therewith of the collar 7 through which is adaptedto be loosely directed the elongated sleeve 8, the inner end of thecollar 7 being provided with an annulaigiiange 9 adapted to coact with asuitable seat 10 formed in the outer end of the sleeve 8 whereby saidsleeve may be eficctually and conveniently clamped in operativeposition. The end portion of the .bore of the sleeve 8 adjacent theextremliltl ity provided with a head is threaded, as indicated at 11, inorder to permit detachable engagement of said sleeve with the threadedextremity of the straight portion 12 of a spoke S, whereby it will bereadily perceived that upon axial rotation of the sleeve 8, the tensionof the spoke may be readily and conveniently regulated. I prefer to havethe sleeve 8 angular in cross section in order that the same may beengaged by a suitable tool for imparting the necessary axial rotationthereto. This is also true of the collar 7 I also find it of advantageto have the outer extremity of the stud 6 provided with a radial recessin order to accommodate the outer extremity of the spoke so that noobstruction may be offered there to at the time the tension thereof isadjusted. While the stud 6 may be ap lied to the rim 4 in any mannerdesired, I d it of advantage to have the same detaohably engagedtherewith by being in threaded engagement and in order to expedite suchattachment of the stud with the rim, I have the free end thereof alsoprovided with the groove or square 14 in order to permit the use of therequisite tool for applying or removing the stud.

The inner end portion of each of the spokes S is disposed on such acurve, as indicated at 15, that when the spoke is in a perpendicularposition, the pressure thereon will be received by the substantiallyhorizontal portion of the curve 15 and whereby any shock or vibrationwill be substantially entirely absorbed by such curved before the'samereaches the hub 1 or t e axle upon which the hub may be mounted.

The inner extremity of the spoke is hingedly engaged through the mediumof the removable bolt 16 between a pair of the flanges 2, and it is tobe observed that in the completed wheel, the engagement of the innerends of the spokes are in staggered relation and alternately at oppositesides of the hub whereby it will be readily perceived that the spokesserve to materially strengthen the completed wheel against pressureduring such times the .wheel may side sweep. It will also .be observedthat by this arrangement, the spokes serve to effectually absorbtheshock or vibration incident to the side sweeping of the wheel. It isalso to be observed that the curved portions 15 of the spokes areflattened which in practice I have found serves to materially softenthe'action of the wheel and to give a maximum of efliciency as pertainsto the absorption of shock or vibration.

In order to prevent dust or other foreign substances from enteringbetween the respective pairs of flanges or disks 2 which would otherwisehave a tendency to impair the eiliciency of the device, I find it ofadvantage to interpose between adjacent ortion free extremities thereofprovided with the inwardly disposed overlying extensions 17' and withthe reversely directed spaced pro- 7/ jections 18 between which theadjacent spokes are adapted to be positioned. By this arrangement itwill be readily perceived that an effective means is provided forpreventing entrance of any foreign substances between the flanges andthat the same are free for movement under the in" fluence of themovements of the spokes. and in no wise tend to interfere therewith. Inorder to hold such cap members. C against displacement, I find it ofadvantage to dis pose through the flanges 2 the bolts 19 which are alsodisposed through the inner end of the members and for which purpose Ifind it of advantage to have the inner end. of such members providedwith the substantial loop 20. I I

From' the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that awheel con-' structed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and! comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without material departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out w myinvention in practice.

I claim: v

1. A device of the character described comprising a hub provided withspaced flanges, a rim disposed around the hub in spaced relationrelativethereto, spokes secured to the rim and hingedly engaged between theflanges of the hub, and expansible cap members positioned between theflanges intermediate adjacent spokes, said cap members comprisingoverlying extensions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hub provided withspaced flanges, a rim disposed around the hub in cap members @aomprisingspaced relation relative thereto, spokes secured to the rim and hingedlyengaged between the flanges of the hub, and expansible cap memberspositioned between the flanges with reversely directed .spacedprojections between which the adjacent spokes are adapted to bepositioned.

4. A device of the character described comprising a hub provided withspaced flanges, a rim disposed around the hub in spaced relationrelative thereto, spokes secured to the rim and hingedly engaged betweenthe flanges of the hub, and expansible' cap members positioned betweenthe flanges intermediate adjacent spokes, each of said a single piece ofresilient material bent intermediate its length into substantially aV-shape with the free extremities thereof provided with inwardlydisposed overlying extensions and,

with reversely directed spaced projections between which the adjacentspokes are disposed inwardly,

member being disposed inwardly.

5. A device of the character described comprising a hub provided withspaced flanges, a rim disposed around the hub in spaced relationrelative thereto, spokes secured to the rim and hingedly tween theflanges of the hub, expansible cap members positioned betweenthe'flanges intermediate adjacent spokes, each of said cap memberscomprising a single piece of resilient material bent intermediate itslength into substantially a V-shape with the free extremities thereofprovided with inwardly disposed overlying extensions and withreversel'ydirected spaced projections between which the adjacent spokes areadapted to be engaged beadapted to be positioned, the apex of thepositioned, the apex of the member being and means carried by theflanges coaching with the apex of? the member for holding the sameagainst displacement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

NOAH L. HAYDEN.

Witnesses:

H. B. HUNTER, R. T. EDWARDS.

